Total Reflection Research Articles

3D Precise Structure Determination of Single-Atom Cu Species on TiO2 Using Polarization-Dependent Total Reflection Fluorescent X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Empowered by Chemically Constrained Micro Reverse Monte Carlo and Density Functional Theory

3D Precise Structure Determination of Single-Atom Cu Species on TiO₂ Using Polarization-Dependent Total Reflection Fluorescent X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Empowered by Chemically Constrained Micro Reverse Monte Carlo and Density Functional Theory

Addressing a Gap in Health Equity Education: A Qualitative Analysis of a Longitudinal GME Course.

Graduate medical education (GME) on diversity, equity, and inclusion rarelyteaches strategies for developing anti-racist mindsets and behaviors, and understanding of the impact of these programs and particular curricular components is lacking. To evaluate the format, content, and impact of a longitudinal anti-racismconference series (ARC) on resident physicians within an urban internal medicine program through a qualitative analysis, with the goal of informing the development and implementation of other evidence-based anti-racism curricula in graduate medical education (GME). The ARC consisted of eight mandatory, 60-min virtual conferences held between August 2020 and June 2021 within an internal medicine residency program's primary care track sub-group. The conference's content synthesized previous anti-racism curricula, scholarly readings, and practical experiences, and emphasized internal reflection and behavior change. Thirty internal medicine resident physicians and six faculty members. Seven voluntary, semi-structured, hour-long focus groups were conducted to document resident perspectives on the ARC's format, content, and impact of the curriculum on learner's professional and personal development. Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze resident responses. In total, 17/30 (57%) residents participated in focus groups. Analysis of course format, content, and impact revealed the following: (1) The most valued aspect of the course's instructional format was its perceived psychological safety. (2) Residents desired course content with more outward action steps than were offered. (3) Residents noted personal and professional impact across three main domains: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional. In this longitudinal GME internal medicine anti-racism curriculum, participants felt that the curriculum format provided safe spaces to engage with topics on systemic racism and patient care, but content lacked sufficient action-oriented strategies. The curriculum's impact was multi-dimensional and could be studied more deeply in the future through simulation or direct observation.

Planet Earth in reflected and polarized light. I. Three-dimensional radiative transfer simulations of realistic surface-atmosphere systems

Future ground- and space-based telescopes will enable the characterization of rocky exoplanets in reflected light, allowing for the observation of their albedo, which depends on surface, cloud, and atmospheric properties. Identifying key atmospheric, cloud, and surface features is essential for assessing the potential habitability of these exoplanets. We present reference spectra and phase curves for a spatially unresolved Earth-like exoplanet in reflected and polarized light, highlighting how wavelength-dependent and phase-angle-dependent reflectance reveals key planetary properties. Performing simulations with the 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code MYSTIC, we improve surface and cloud modeling by introducing validated wavelength-dependent albedo maps of Earth's seasonal and spectral features, as well as a novel treatment of subgrid cloud variability and inhomogeneities based on reanalysis data from ERA5. Our models incorporate high-resolution 3D cloud structures, demonstrating that subgrid cloud variability significantly affects both intensity and polarization. It reduces total reflectance and increases phase curve variability, especially at large phase angles where ocean glint dominates. Additionally, we show that neglecting realistic wavelength-dependent albedo maps leads to a significant overestimation of the vegetation red edge feature in reflected light spectra. Comparing an ocean planet to an Earth-like planet with seasonal cloud variability, we find that polarization is far more sensitive than intensity alone to identify the two scenarios. Moreover, polarization captures richer information on surface properties, making it a critical tool for breaking degeneracies in retrieval frameworks. We present detailed model simulations that provide a ground-truth reference for observing Earth as an exoplanet and that serve as critical benchmarks for developing observational strategies and retrieval frameworks for future telescopes targeting small rocky exoplanets. Furthermore, this study informs model requirements and establishes a framework to optimize strategies for characterizing rocky exoplanets, emphasizing the pivotal role of polarization in breaking retrieval degeneracies across different models.

Multi-scale analysis of ageing behaviour in bituminous materials

Understanding aging across material scales is critical for predicting the long-term performance of bituminous materials. This study investigates the aging of binder, mastic, and asphalt mixture samples under various temperature, pressure, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and humidity. Chemical aging processes were analysed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), principal component analysis (PCA), and Euclidean distance. Normalisation, baseline correction, and advanced ATR correction were used to enhance the accuracy of FTIR results. Hydrated lime in mastics enhanced the resistance to oxidative aging, particularly under hygrothermal conditions. PCA identified key spectral regions for understanding aging processes of bituminous materials. Porous asphalt (PA) mixtures aged more than stone mastic asphalt under field-like conditions. PCA identified distinct aging clusters at low and high pressure. Euclidean distance analysis indicated that binder-level aging can approximate mastic and mixture aging under certain conditions. The findings confirm that FTIR indices are effective for multi-scale aging studies.

Influence of Nd2O3-doped PVA interlayer on the optoelectrical response of a photodiode

Abstract This study examines the photovoltaic properties of a Schottky photodiode (PD) based on the Au/PVA:Nd2O3/n-Si structure under various light and dark conditions. A PVA polymer layer doped with Nd2O3 is applied to the metal-semiconductor (MS) interface to form a metal-nanocomposite-semiconductor (MNS) Schottky PD. Characterization of the PVA:Nd2O3 nanocomposite is conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) analyses. Key electronic properties such as reverse-saturation current (I0), ideality factor (n), series/shunt resistances (Rs/Rsh), barrier height (ΦB0), interface state density (Nss), photocurrent (Iph), photosensitivity (S), optical responsivity (R), and specific detectivity (D*) are analyzed. The nanocomposite enhances photosensitivity, responsivity, and detectivity by 1.7 × 104, 4.79 A W−1, and 1.07 × 1012 Jones, respectively. Results demonstrate that the Au/PVA:Nd2O3/n-Si structure exhibits excellent photo-response, making it a potential replacement for traditional MS-type Schottky PDs in optoelectronics and solar applications.

Functionalized Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanofiber Adsorbents for Prospective Metal Recovery from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries

The lack of economically viable and environmentally friendly recycling processes to recover valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has resulted in an environmental pollution and a high risk of metal resource shortage. Among various approaches, adsorption using electrospun nanofiber adsorbents has attracted research interest due to several distinctive properties. This study synthesized electrospun polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofiber adsorbent which was functionalized with Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (DEHPA) to recover Ni, Co, or Mn metal ions. The pristine and modified electrospun nanofibers were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The adsorption kinetics and capacity of the modified PET-DEHPA nanofibers were obtained at optimum pH 4; 60 min of contact time and 100 mg/L initial metal concentration. The adsorption capacity of PET-DEHPA nanofibers for Ni, Co and Mn metal ions was 80 mg/g, 98 mg/g, and 118 mg/g, respectively. The selectivity of Mn over Ni and Co metal ions was also examined at pH 4 and showed that the recovery efficiencies were 5%; 11% and 58% for Ni, Co and Mn, respectively. Thus, indicating that the modified PET-DEHPA nanofiber was selective for Mn ions. The desorption and regeneration were also studied in solutions of nitric acid and Ni, Co and Mn ions, and results showed that PET-DEHPA nanofiber was able to withstand over 5 cycles, highlighting its potential in economic viability and sustainability. Overall, this study presents a new and promising approach for recycling Mn ions from solutions of spent LIBs.

The Amorphous State of the Antiepileptic Clobazam: Preparation and Characterization.

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize amorphous clobazam (CLOB) and investigate its devitrification under various stressors (temperature/humidity, compaction and mechanical/thermal stresses). Amorphous CLOB was prepared by melt-quenching in liquid nitrogen. The quench-cooled sample (CLOB-q) was characterized via polarized light and hot-stage microscopies (PLM and HSM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), conventional and modulated DSC (DSC-c and MDSC®), thermogravimetry (TG), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements. Stability of CLOB-q toward temperature/humidity, compaction, and combined mechanical and thermal stress were also evaluated. CLOB-q was a truly amorphous form, as revealed by DSC-c, MDSC® and DMA. Its calorimetric glass transition temperature (Tg) was 67.0 °C (20 °C/min) and the ratio Tm/Tg was 1.34, indicating a fragile glass. The water contact angle of CLOB-q (121.8° ± 1.7°) was lower than that of crystalline CLOB (CLOB-c, 131.3° ± 3.6°), likely due to its higher concentration of surface CL, as determined by XPS. Storage of CLOB-q at - 20 °C/0% RH, 25 °C/0% RH and 40 °C/75% RH resulted in its complete devitrification to CLOB-c within 60 days, 4days, and 42 h respectively. Subjection of CLOB-q to compaction (19.6 kN) and combined mechanical-thermal stresses also resulted in complete crystallization to CLOB-c. In conclusion, amorphous CLOB was successfully prepared in the laboratory for the first time and thoroughly characterized. It easily devitrified to CLOB-c by effect of different stressors, and thus it could not have advantages over CLOB-c in terms of physical stability.

Degradation of polyethylene by three bacteria isolated from coastal beach.

Degradation of polyethylene by three bacteria isolated from coastal beach.

Coherent photoelectrical readout of single spins in silicon carbide at room temperature

Establishing a robust and integratable quantum system capable of sensitive qubit readout at ambient conditions is a key challenge for developing prevalent quantum technologies, including quantum networks and quantum sensing. Paramagnetic colour centres in wide bandgap semiconductors provide optical single-spin detection, yet realising efficient electrical readout technology in scalable material will unchain developing integrated ambient quantum electronics. Here, we demonstrate photoelectrical detection of single spins in silicon carbide, a material amenable to large-scale processing and electronic integration. With efficient photocarrier collection, we achieve a 1.7–2 times better signal-to-noise ratio for single spins of silicon vacancies with electrical detection than with optical detection suffering from saturating fluorescence and internal reflection. Based on our photoionisation dynamics study, further improvement would be expected with enhanced ionisation. We also observe single-defect-like features in the photocurrent image where photoluminescence is absent in the spectrum range of silicon vacancies. The efficient electrical readout in the mature material platform holds promise for developing integrated quantum devices.

Impact of microalgal biomass and microplastics on the sorption behaviour of pesticides in soil: a comparative study

The sustainability of resource recovery and agricultural practices can be enhanced by utilising microalgal biomass from a high-rate algal pond for wastewater treatment to improve soil quality and food yields. However, certain factors should be considered first. The addition of fertilisers and the presence of contaminants such as microplastics (MPs) can modify the behaviour of pesticides, applied to such fields. A sorption study of three model pesticides with different octanol–water partitioning coefficient (log Kow): acetamiprid (ACE, log Kow 0.80), chlorantraniliprole (CAP, log Kow 2.76), and flubendiamide (FLU, log Kow 4.20), was carried out in soils amended with microalgal biomass in the presence and absence of MPs. The surface of the sorbents in the study was characterised by attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (CA), and point of zero charge (pHPZC). Overall, the sorption of model pesticides increased with their hydrophobicity: ACE > CAP > FLU. The addition of microalgal biomass to soil increased the sorption of ACE (0.72 ± 0.05 µg g−1), compared to soil only (0.08 ± 0.08 µg g−1). The greater sorption capacity of ACE can be attributed to electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions between ACE moieties and the negatively charged surface of microalgal biomass containing polar functional groups. The presence of MPs (3% w/w, mixture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS)) did not affect the sorption of ACE, CAP or FLU, regardless of the presence or absence of microalgal biomass. However, FLU sorption was enhanced in the presence of PE and PS in soil, spiked with these individual MP polymers. Microalgal soil amendment can, therefore, influence the behaviour of hydrophilic compounds in soil.

Confocal micro-X-ray fluorescence and total reflection X-ray fluorescence analyses of Ryugu sample in a laboratory environment.

This study analyzed Ryugu samples utilizing confocal micro-X-ray fluorescence (CM-XRF) and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), in which information of elemental mapping as well as the content of trace elements could be obtained separately, and respectively. In CM-XRF, polycapillary lenses are placed in front of the X-ray tube and detector, and elemental information in the overlapping region of both focus points was obtained. Three-dimensional elemental distributions could be obtained by scanning a sample; the Ryugu sample was placed on an Al plate with one center, and the images of Fe, Ni, Cr, and Ca were obtained. The outlines of these elements were almost equivalent; however, as the energy of Ca Kα was low, its intensity in the elemental mapping was weak. Non-destructive TXRF measurements were performed to measure the trace elements in the Ryugu sample. We then performed quantitative analysis and determined the concentrations of trace elements such as Ga, Ge, and Se. The concentrations of these elements are higher than those in the CI chondrites. Therefore, we verified that the 3D elemental distributions and quantitative measurements in the Ryugu sample were performed without destruction.

Dynamic FTIR Spectroscopy for Assessing the Changing Biomolecular Composition of Bacterial Cells During Growth

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can detect biomolecular changes in bacterial cells in response to drugs or other stimuli. Fully developing this area requires an understanding of IR spectral changes associated with the growth of unperturbed cells. Such an understanding is still lacking, however. To address this issue, attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy has been used to probe changes in the composition of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 cells during exponential growth, with a 30 min time resolution. We find prominent spectral changes in proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates evolving from the early (30–120 min) to the late (240–360 min) log phase of growth. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that spectra obtained for cells during the early and late log phases of growth can be discriminated against with 100% accuracy. Protein-related spectral features are most significant in spectra collected at 30- and 90-min post-inoculation and provide a robust basis for temporal differentiation. Spectral changes that occur during the first 30 min after inoculation are shown to reverse over the next 30–120 min, indicating dynamic adaptations during cellular growth. Overall, we demonstrate a band assignment strategy based on time resolution, underscoring the utility of FTIR spectroscopy in dynamic studies of bacterial cells.

Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Eucalyptus Oil Citriodora Wound Dressing Containing Piezoelectric β Phase

ABSTRACTPolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) /Eucalyptus oil Citriodora wound dressing containing piezoelectric β phase was fabricated by solution casting method. The measurement of water contact angle, moisture content (MC), thickness, density, opacity, swelling degree, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), color parameters, and mechanical properties, and also the tests of physical appearance, attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity were conducted for the investigation of prepared wound dressing features and performance. Based on the results, the contact angle of pure PVDF film was obtained as 123.5° while it was measured as 86.7° for the wound dressing. Furthermore, the MC parameter for pure PVDF and wound dressing films was achieved as 16.66% and 18.75%, respectively. The values of the inhibition zone for the wound dressing against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were obtained as 33.56 and 31.08 mm, respectively. Moreover, the wound dressing exhibited a 117% cell viability after 72 h, in contrast to the pure PVDF sample which only achieved a 26% cell viability.

Noncovalent Interactions Promoted Kinetics in Perylene Diimide-Based Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries: An Operando Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Study.

Perylene-based organic anodes, as an alternative to metallic Zn for aqueous Zn-ion batteries, store Zn2+ through a Zn enolate coordination mechanism, which potentially bypasses challenges such as dendrite and hydroxide formation associated with a Zn anode. However, organic anodes exhibit low electrical conductivity and show a low rate performance. Molecular aggregation of conjugated aromatics plays a key role in the electrical conductivity of this class of material, and it is important to understand their impact on the battery rate performance. In this work, we combined electrochemistry and in situ attenuated total reflection infrared characterization to demonstrate the dominating role of aggregates in perylene-based electrodes in the enhancement of the electrode kinetics. We demonstrated the use of noncovalent interaction to form a supermolecular network that exhibits more than 4 orders of magnitude increase in the electron transfer rate, and provides nearly doubled charge storage capacity. The aggregation of perylene units was driven by π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding between the active material and a mediator, ethylene diamine. We showed that, in practice, this additive-mediated aggregation can occur during solution process at a moderate temperature.

Low RCS MIMO antenna with high isolation based on polarisation conversion surface

ABSTRACT This paper presents a 4-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna resonating in 4.89–9 GHz range. The overall size of the antenna is 0.65λ0 × 0.65λ0 × 0.02λ0 (λ0 represents the free-space wavelength at the lowest resonant frequency). To improve the isolation between radiation elements and reduce radar cross section (RCS) simultaneously, a reflective polarisation conversion metasurface (PCM) is proposed. The PCM and its mirror units are arranged in groups of six in a windmill manner in the centre of the MIMO antenna. Thus, 180° phase difference produces cancellation of far-field scattering, which results in low RCS with maximum value of 11.3 dB in the frequency bands of 9.5–12.5 GHz and 12.9–16.5 GHz. Besides, the coupling path between antenna elements is blocked by the PCM units, thus improving the isolation by a maximum value of 44.37 dB in the band of 4.89–9 GHz. The isolation is higher than 20.4 dB in the entire band. It’s worth noting that the PCM units and the radiation elements share the same FR4 substrate, greatly reducing the antenna profile and simplifying processing complexity. Calculated results of the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC, <0.04), the diversity gain (DG, >9.99 dB), the total active reflection coefficient (TARC, <-10 dB) and the channel capacity loss (CCL, <0.5 bits/Hz/sec) demonstrate that the diversity performance and data transmission quality of the antenna are satisfactory. A prototype antenna is fabricated and measured. Good agreement between the experimental and simulated results ensures the applicability of this design for MIMO stealth applications.

SNARE complex assembly and disassembly dynamics in response to Ca2+ current activation in live cells.

SNARE complex assembly and disassembly dynamics in response to Ca2+ current activation in live cells.

Single-molecule observations of human small heat shock proteins in complex with aggregation-prone client proteins.

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are molecular chaperones that act to prevent the aberrant aggregation of misfolded proteins. Whilst it is suggested that sHsps prevent aggregation by binding to misfolded client proteins, the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of sHsps has hindered attempts to establish the mechanistic details of how sHsp-client protein complexes form. Single-molecule approaches have emerged as a powerful tool to investigate dynamic and heterogeneous interactions such as those that can occur between sHsps and their client proteins. Here, we use total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to observe and characterise the complexes formed between model aggregation-prone client proteins [firefly luciferase (FLUC), rhodanese, and chloride intracellular channel 1 protein (CLIC)], and the human sHsps αB-crystallin (αB-c; HSPB5) and Hsp27 (HSPB1). We show that small (monomeric or dimeric) forms of both αB-c and Hsp27 bind to misfolded or oligomeric forms of the client proteins at early stages of aggregation, resulting in the formation of soluble sHsp-client complexes. Stoichiometric analysis of these complexes revealed that additional αB-c subunits accumulate onto pre-existing sHsp-client complexes to form larger species - this does not occur to the same extent for Hsp27. Instead, Hsp27-client interactions tend to be more transient than those of αB-c. Elucidating these mechanisms of sHsp function is crucial to our understanding of how these molecular chaperones act to inhibit protein aggregation and maintain cellular proteostasis.

Insights into catalytic activity and selectivity of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation on gold single-crystal electrodes

The selective electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) holds transformative potential for advancing sustainable, bio-based polymer production. In this study, we unveil the pivotal role of gold single-crystal electrode surface orientation in directing HMF oxidation pathways under alkaline conditions. Using cyclic voltammetry, we systematically evaluate the oxidation behavior on Au(111), Au(100), Au(110), Au(311), Au(331), and Au(210) surfaces. Our findings reveal that Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces exhibit superior catalytic activity for the complete oxidation to FDCA, while Au(110) promotes the selective formation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA). These differences in activity are closely linked to the crystallographic structure, influencing adsorption energies and reaction intermediates. In situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy provide direct molecular insights, identifying distinct vibrational signatures of intermediates and products. This study highlights the critical role of electrode surface structure in tuning reaction efficiency and selectivity, contributing to the development of more efficient catalytic processes in green chemistry.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Urea Intercalated Biochar

Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biochar in enhancing soil physical and chemical properties. However, biochar's inherent nitrogen content is exceedingly low. This research sought to investigate the potential for elevating the nitrogen content of biochar through intercalation with Urea, employing chemical methods. Urea intercalated municipal biochar (UMB) fertilizer was created by blending a urea solution with the original Municipal biochar at a 1:1 ratio (20 ml: 20 g). Subsequently, it underwent an oven drying process at 65°C to eliminate moisture content. One gram of adhesive polymer (starch) was introduced into the mixture and allowed to air dry. The final product was subjected to characterization through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) within the range of 400 to 4000 cm-1, utilizing Attenuated Total Reflectance techniques. Selected chemical properties of municipal biochar, urea, and urea intercalated biochar, such as pH and total nitrogen (N), were determined. Notably, the nitrogen content of municipal biochar was substantially lower than that of urea-intercalated biochar. FTIR analysis of the intercalated biochar was compared with the original biochar, revealing the emergence of numerous absorption sites in regions corresponding to amides (3600 - 3300 cm-1), carboxylic acid groups (1750 - 1700 cm-1), nitrile groups (2260 - 2210 cm-1), and hydroxyl groups (OH) at 2950 cm-1. These features were absent in the FTIR results of the original municipal biochar. The predominant peak in the municipal biochar spectra was attributed to the COOH group at a wavelength peak of 1630 cm-1. The outcomes of this study validate the feasibility of enhancing the nitrogen content of biochar through intercalation. Furthermore, the presence of numerous functional groups in urea-intercalated municipal biochar fertilizer suggests its potential as a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Nonetheless, additional research is warranted to confirm its efficacy

Double-layer structure and cation-dependent solvent decomposition in acetonitrile-based electrolytes

Abstract We present an analysis of the microscopic structure of the interface between a gold electrode and acetonitrile-based electrolytes, utilising surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection mode (ATR-SEIRAS) combined with voltammetric data. The investigation focuses on the potential-induced changes in the interactions between interfacial acetonitrile molecules and on the onset of reductive acetonitrile decomposition in Li+- and Na+-containing electrolytes. The acetonitrile molecules exhibit a potential-dependent reorientation, leading to an increase in the concentration of antiparallel dimers at the interface at negative potentials, as the nitrogen end of the molecule is pushed away from the surface. The initial stages of reductive decomposition of acetonitrile are different in the Li+- and Na+-based electrolytes. Spectral signatures characteristic of amines are seen in LiClO4 acetonitrile solutions, while amide bands are also observed in NaClO4. Because traces of water in acetonitrile must be the proton source for the reduction of interfacial acetonitrile to amines and amides, OH− must also be generated during those processes. In fact, ATR-SEIRA spectra reveal the formation and subsequent precipitation of LiOH. Precipitation of NaOH in NaClO4 seems to be absent, though. With increasingly negative potential, the reductive cleavage of acetonitrile results in the formation of several cyanide species. The corresponding cyanide-characteristic bands show a potential-dependent stretching frequency that suggests they correspond to adsorbed species. These findings highlight the effect of potential-induced solvent reorientation on solvent–solvent interactions at the interface as well as the impact of the electrolyte cation on the products of the reductive decomposition of acetonitrile. Graphical Abstract